SWIFT/BIC codes in Spain: banks starting with T

SWIFT/BIC codes in Spain

On this page you find codes for 581 banks in Spain – 933 codes altogether. You need a SWIFT/BIC code mainly for payments across borders.

Every bank is listed with its own page with the head office code and if there are any, codes for branches and departments. Further down we explain how a code from Spain is put together, how to send money there without overpaying and what to check before you pay.

Spain and the SEPA area

Inside SEPA, euro payments to Spain follow common rules. The BIC field is often optional for those payments.

You still need a SWIFT code when sending non-euro payments or transfers from countries outside SEPA. Euro payments within SEPA usually arrive by the next business day. Costs stay low provided everything stays in euros; the conversion is where it gets expensive.

The largest SWIFT network in Spain: BNP Paribas Securities Services, Spain

Of all banks we list for Spain, BNP Paribas Securities Services, Spain has the most codes. Its main office has PARBESMHXXX; that is usually the right code for a transfer.

Banks differ in whether they register branch codes – a high count is not a measure of size. Paying someone at BNP Paribas Securities Services, Spain? Go with PARBESMHXXX except when a specific branch code is requested.

How long does a transfer to Spain take?

There is no fixed answer for payments to Spain: some arrive the same day or the next, others take several business days. Bank holidays in Spain or in the sending country add extra days, because banks do not process payments on those days.

If the money is late, the sender should contact the sending bank for a trace – the receiving bank often cannot see a payment that has not arrived. Save your transfer receipt until the money has arrived.

What a transfer to Spain really costs

If you transfer money to Spain via your bank, the fee you see is only part of the cost. You pay the transfer fee, possibly fees from correspondent banks along the way and, above all, the exchange rate markup when currencies differ.

The markup on the rate tends to be the biggest cost item because it is hidden in the rate. Check the bank’s rate against the mid-market rate that you find on financial sites. The difference is your real cost.

For a lot of routes, a transfer service turns out to be less expensive than a bank. GoldexPay compares what recipients in Spain receive with different providers, which makes the cheapest option easy to spot.

Getting paid from abroad into an account in Spain

Someone abroad who wants to pay you needs several details about your account. Share your name as registered with the bank, the IBAN or account number, the BIC of your bank and your address, which some banks require.

Find your bank in the list above to check its code. You can add your bank’s name and city as well.

What lands in your account is often less than what was sent. Charges on incoming payments vary from bank to bank – your bank’s price list tells you what applies. For business payments, state who bears the costs.

Recognising a SWIFT code from Spain

A SWIFT code is 8 or 11 characters long and the parts always come in the same order. First comes a four-letter bank code, followed by a two-letter country code and two characters for the location.

You can recognise a code from Spain by letters five and six: they always show the ISO country code of Spain. When the country letters point to another country, the code belongs to a bank in another country – worth double-checking.

If the last three are XXX, it refers to the head office and the short version works just as well. In most cases the head office code is fine, unless the recipient gives you a branch code.

The Euro (EUR) and conversion costs

Bank accounts in Spain are typically held in EUR. When you pay money in a different currency, it gets converted at some point: by your bank, an intermediary or the receiving bank.

Where the conversion happens affects the final amount. Often you pay less to send EUR straight away via a transfer service with a good rate so the receiving bank does not need to convert again. Rates for EUR change all the time – some providers let you lock in a rate.

Verifying a SWIFT code from Spain

The best place to find the correct BIC remains a document from the bank itself, such as a statement or the account page in online banking. An incorrect BIC can cause a delay, a payment being sent back or additional charges – compare it with the code in our list.

This list draws on public sources. Institutions reorganise, close branches and change codes. Use this list as a starting point: the bank details from the recipient come first. GoldexPay is a comparison site.

Be wary of invoices with a new account, especially when they come by email. Always confirm changed details by phone, using a number you already had.

Banks in Spain starting with :letter

This list only shows banks in Spain beginning with :letter, sorted alphabetically. The totals mentioned above still refer to all banks in Spain and not only this selection.

If a bank is missing here, try another letter – the registered name can differ from the name people use. Try the full list for Spain when you are not sure the exact name.